JBL-Polk Audio LSi10 Frankenstein Speakers - eBay's Fault

TonyPTX
TonyPTX Posts: 545
edited February 2024 in Clubhouse Archives
Ok, my bro coined the name so I have to give him credit here. I've been bugging lots of folks on this forum along with others about x-over modifications etc...and now well I figured I might as well show everyone my hand for the time being...
I've been wanting to fix my first pair of speakers that I ever owned for a while now ever since the tweeters were blown when I got them. Do to Har's post, I snatched a pair of Polk LSi Vifa Tweeters from e-Bay for $80 and decided to mod the JBL x-over's and drop them in my good ole' babies....

Rooster....here's to you bud...

The merger of some of the best components in a speaker system.

JBL-Polk_Frankenstein-0001.jpg
Polk LSi Vifa Ring Tweeters on a pair of '85 JBL speakers.

jbl-polk_frankenstein-0004.jpg
Full View

jbl-polk_frankenstein-0008.jpg
Grille On

When I have more time, I will post a review later once I finish the tweeks: (internal wire upgrade to Monster XP, and permanently solder on the x-over modifications). All I can say is that we put them up to the test against a pair of LSi9's. If Paulie - aka pjdami wants to chime-in, feel free to.
Damn....8 lines...I've gotta put my sig on a diet now....
Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on
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Comments

  • fireshoes
    fireshoes Posts: 3,167
    edited June 2003
    I think I'm gonna be sick...
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  • goingganzo
    goingganzo Posts: 2,793
    edited June 2003
    now you just need to find the rest of the parts to buld your own lsi lol
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited June 2003
    Blasphamy! You heathens will burn in hell for this...... Matt's rolling over in his grave....(Yeah I know he's not dead.)
    That is an abomination! A musical freak show!!:mad:


    HMMMM.....I wonder where I put my old JVC speakers....

    (leaves to find tool box and assorted wire clippings)


    Let us know how they sound!
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited June 2003
    I'm giving up trying to understand........:confused:
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited June 2003
    Looks good Tony, glad to see you bring some life back into your JBLs.

    I don't really see why anyone should be shocked, you fixed and upgraded a good pair of speakers, and modded the network properly for the new tweeter vs just 'dropping it in'. Hell, I'm willing to bet you even had fun doing it.

    Good job. Now, as Frank said, how do they sound?

    -Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited June 2003
    They look cool!! Nice job
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2

    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
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  • TonyPTX
    TonyPTX Posts: 545
    edited June 2003
    Glad to see me get support from some of you folks....hell, would it have made a difference if I spent $160 (rather than $80 for the same tweeter) to buy some Vifa's from Parts Express and put them in? Personally I think the $80 bux was money well spent on an excellent pair of speakers who's mid-range was second to none for it's day and now with the new Vifa tweeter the highs are as natural as the LSi series. Yes I did some basic network modeling. Yeah I had fun doing it. Yeah it needs some more tweaking. Hell, I brought some new life to a pair of speakers that would have been sitting in my closet collecting dust for the next 10 years. Yeah I think these speakers were better than the LSi9's I compared them to because they were almost 5 dB more efficient with a more active and clearer/detailed mid-bass than the laid back sound of the 9's. I'd almost put them as a mix between the active midrange and low's of a pair of Paradigm Studio 40's with the natural sweet sounding highs of the LSi's. Take it or leave it. :rolleyes:

    EDIT: OK, I'll admit the placement of the LSi9's weren't in they're optimal position, but neither were the JBL's.
    Damn....8 lines...I've gotta put my sig on a diet now....
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  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited June 2003
    Looks good Tony, glad to see you bring some life back into your JBLs.

    Agreed. New life into some old speakers that were sitting around collecting dust with blown tweets. Since the original tweets weren't available anymore...what the heck replace them with the best thing going ... the Vifa (and at $80 / pair).

    These will be a good second set of speakers for the office, etc.

    How do they sound?? Well, at first I didn't think I wanted to touch that with a ten foot pole. I think more evaluations need to be done with a larger soundstage (speakers further apart and listening position further back). Initial impressions, smooth Vifa sound that LSi listeners are used to. Somewhat forward sounding midrange (probably too forward for some); more tweeks to the Xover network may be in order after the frequency sweep he is doing is complete. Pretty good efficiency with power. Never really cranked them though to see what they really got.

    Overall, a success after a first attempt. Not bad at all.

    P.
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  • TonyPTX
    TonyPTX Posts: 545
    edited June 2003
    The calvary has arrived...
    Damn....8 lines...I've gotta put my sig on a diet now....
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  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited June 2003
    Yeah I think these speakers were better than the LSi9's I compared them to because they were almost 5 dB more efficient with a more active and clearer/detailed mid-bass than the laid back sound of the 9's

    Hold your horses there Tony. You and I both know the LSi 9 setup was way less than ideal for the comparison. Let's bring em over to my place and hook them up to the seperates and let's see what they got.

    P.

    They do sound pretty good though. I was surprised..
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  • TonyPTX
    TonyPTX Posts: 545
    edited June 2003
    We talked about this one. No more reviews till I'm done with 'em.
    Damn....8 lines...I've gotta put my sig on a diet now....
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  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,413
    edited June 2003
    Cool stuff, this is a hobby and projects like this one is where you can have some real fun.

    Mantis "I'm giving up trying to understand"
    What's with this reply? This guy is having fun and trying to save an old pair of speakers or he is at least learning something, and you turn your nose up like that?? Give the guy some credit I know he had to at least open two boxes during this project.
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited June 2003
    I don't see any problem with the conversion. If JBL designed those speakers today there is a good chance they may have mated that woofer with that tweeter in that size box. It helps to have tons of test equipment and a team of highly qualified experienced designers to produce a pair of nice sounding, cost efficient speakers which can be produced in volume at a profit but the DIY route can produce a quality set as well. (With a lot of effort and some luck).

    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • gidrah
    gidrah Posts: 3,049
    edited June 2003
    Good job. They look great. I'm glad to hear that got some new life put back into them.
    Make it Funky! :)
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited June 2003
    Tony,
    great job! review on how it sounds coming soon?
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited June 2003
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3027479839&category=14993

    Pic of the orig tweet, and a good pair up for grabs if anyone wants to follow T's footsteps....

    -Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • TonyPTX
    TonyPTX Posts: 545
    edited June 2003
    Think I might try to snatch these up too Rooster. I've been needing spare parts and never thought about eBay for old speakers....duh....
    Damn....8 lines...I've gotta put my sig on a diet now....
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited June 2003
    Well, if you want to pick them up, I'm happy to give you 3 hots and a cot, say the word. (auction is local to me)

    -Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • TonyPTX
    TonyPTX Posts: 545
    edited June 2003
    Originally posted by RuSsMaN
    Well, if you want to pick them up, I'm happy to give you 3 hots and a cot, say the word. (auction is local to me)

    -Russ

    Good to know just in cause something falls through. Gonna do some last minute bidding :)

    EDIT: Damn....became a victim....the Butler did me in and I got out bidded. And to think that I put my bid in w/30 seconds left on the auction :mad:
    Damn....8 lines...I've gotta put my sig on a diet now....
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